Home and building information system

ABSTRACT

A home and building information system comprises at least one electrical mains supply, which is connected to an electrical power lead, and comprises a local optical information network for exchanging information and for supplying, controlling and monitoring peripheral devices and terminals. The electrical conductor of the mains supply and at least one optical fiber of an optical passive information network are integrated in all components while running parallel to one another. These components comprise, on one side, permanently installed installation lines with plug sockets and variable installations with flexible network cables and plugs on the other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a home and building information system with atleast one electrical power network connected to an electrical powersupply line, and at least one local optical data network for informationexchange and the supply, control and monitoring of peripherals andterminals. The invention also concerns a process for the use of such aninformation system.

(2) Prior Art

The constantly increasing growth in data quantities and their high speedtransmission impose high requirements on the infrastructure of networksand necessitate future-oriented networking concepts. Optical fibres haveproved the only future-secure transmission medium with sufficiently highperformance reserves. Already, transmission rates of over 10 Gbit/secare achieved with optical fibres. The use of processes such as the wavemultiplex system enables these transmission rates to be multipliedfurther. The term “optical fibre” here and in the text below alsoincludes plastic light waveguides and hybrid optical conductors whichare also optical transmission media.

In conventional home and building information systems, various separatenetworks are in operation, for example for the domestic power supply,computer, telephone and television. This not only entailsdisproportionately high installation costs but the resulting cabletangles cause problems for the user and make the systems unattractive.Attempts have been made to solve these problems with wireless networks,which in principle is sound but only allows limited transmission rates.

The present discussion on future-oriented network concepts above allconcerns the sectors of households, businesses and administrations (lastmile). The connection from workplace to workplace is also usually toocomplex and costly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventor has faced the task of creating a home and buildinginformation system of the type cited initially in which a uniform datanetwork based on optical fibres can be made as easy to use as anelectrical power network. A single installation of the data network iseasy to integrate. The data network can also be used in many ways evenin the area of very high data quantities.

With regard to the home and building information system, the object isachieved by the invention in that the electrical conductors of the powernetwork and at least one optical fibre of an optical passive datanetwork are arranged running parallel and integrated in all components,where these components comprise firstly fixed-wired installation lineswith sockets and secondly variable installations with flexible networkcables and plugs. Special and refined embodiments of the invention arethe subject of dependent claims.

The common components of the electrical power and data network withintegral optical fibres are for example fixed-wired installation lineswith sockets and variable installations such as flexible network cables,single plugs, multiple plugs and connector strips. A substantialadvantage of the optical data network according to the invention is thatit comprises exclusively passive components which by nature are not asdependent on technical progress as active components. Examples ofpassive components are optical fibres and electrical contacts.

In practice the plug connections are standard components of theelectrical power network, in particular standard plugs/sockets in whichin addition to the electrical conductors Live, Neutral and Earth, atleast one optical fibre with corresponding contacts is integrated. Inthe case of multiple connections, the optical fibre has a beam splitterof conventional type.

The optical fibres of the optical data network can be connected by wayof secure, disconnectable devices with an electrical power pack andoptical interface, to at least one external information supply line, inparticular by way of at least one transceiver (transmitter-receiver)connected to a socket or at least one modem. A transceiver connected toa socket can supply several local data networks. Practical examples ofexternal information supply lines are telephone, television and internetlines which are preferably also optical fibres.

A fixed installed electrical power conductor can also be used as anexternal information supply line, where the electrical signals must beconverted by way of an electro-optical coupling into optical signals.This variant is usually suitable only for relatively low transmissionrates.

Commercial optical fibres allow communication at ever increasingtransmission bandwidths. The usual capacity per optical fibre is around1 Gbit/sec and doubles every year. High-channel wave multiplex systemscan be achieved in particular with NZDS fibres(non-zero-dispersion-shifted fibres).

The broader the band of the optical-fibre-based data networks, the moreappropriate the use of optical amplifiers. Most data networks, inparticular for households, do not however require amplifiers.

In one variant, an optical fibre without electrical plug components canbe taken from a network cable and externally connected by way of anoptocoupling to an interface of a device if this is not connected to theelectrical power network. Furthermore, an optical fibre can be takenfrom a network cable and connected externally to an optical interface ofa device without corresponding equipment.

With reference to the process for use of an information system, theobject is achieved by the invention in that it is used with differentstandards simultaneously. Special and refined embodiments of the processare the subject of dependent claims.

Simultaneous use can be achieved, in particular with differentwavelengths and/or different transmission rates. Costly high speedtransmission is suitable in particular for computers, multimedia andcommunication, while the cheaper lower transmission rates areappropriate for a domestic network to control and monitor domesticappliances and/or for object protection. The corresponding constructionof an infrastructure with optical monomode glass fibres and the use oftwo separate wavelengths for transmitting and receiving, guaranteeoptimum operation according to current knowledge.

The standards and protocols of information transmission are preferablydetermined by the devices connected to the sockets. Thus, thesestandards can be adapted to technical developments without changing thefixed installations. Even today transmission rates of up to 10 Gbit/secare possible. The need for local information transmission can also thusbe guaranteed for a longer time horizon and the investment utilised fordecades to come.

A home and building information system according to the invention canalso meet all present and future technical and economic requirements.For example it comprises:

-   -   the control of lighting, heating, shade, doors, windows,        thermostats, manometers, hazardous substance indicators,        cameras, access control and supervision in buildings,    -   networking of PCs, printers, scanners, modems etc.    -   the transmission of sound, images and data by way of multimedia,        television, radio and internet.

The specific advantages of the present invention can be summarisedbriefly as follows:

The power supply and information can be taken from the same socket byway of the same network cable and the information supplied to the samesocket.

Almost all peripherals and terminals have a flexible network cable whichis also used for data transmission; no further cables are required.

A locally limited optical data network with controlled access isterminated externally by way of devices and/or dedicated lines. Theinformation system is an investment in the future, can be installedeverywhere on rewiring but also subsequently installed, is compatiblewith all existing technologies and open to future developments.

The optical data network is a permanent, economic installationconstructed from simple passive modules, which is as easy to use as theelectrical power network and has a very long life.

The local optical fibre data network is easy to scale, modular andflexible in use. Even a simple multiple socket with integral dataoptical fibre network forms a small network which can be used from allconnected peripherals and terminals.

Mixed networks are possible, all standard components of the electricalpower network without optical fibres can be integrated.

At any socket, a WLAN base station (wire local area network) can beconnected and hence mobile devices integrated into the data network byway of wireless connection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference toembodiment examples shown in the drawing and which also form the subjectof dependent claims. The drawings show:

FIG. 1 a front view of a standard electrical plug with integral opticalfibre,

FIG. 2 a side view of an open plug according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 a side view of an open socket for a plug according to FIGS. 1 and2,

FIG. 4 a cross-section through a flexible network cable with integraloptical fibre,

FIG. 5 the fixed-wired installation lines of an electrical power andlocal data network,

FIG. 6 a variable installation for connection to the installation linesin FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 the connection of several power and data networks, and

FIG. 8 a variant of FIG. 7 with a central system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an electrical plug 10, FIG. 3 a socket 12, bothformed as standard components to Swiss standards. Insulated electricallines 14 formed as copper wires or braids lead to the contact pins Live16, Neutral 18 and Earth 20 or their corresponding sockets Live 22,Neutral 24 and Earth 26.

These conventionally constructed plug components 10, 12 according to theinvention also contain an optical fibre 30 leading to an optocoupling28. On the plug 10 inserted in the socket 12, not only the threeelectrical conductors 14 but also the optical fibres 30 are connectedtogether. The electrical supply and data connection are createdsimultaneously.

Clearly a normal standard plug 10 without optical fibre 30 oroptocoupling 28 can also be connected, where only the electrical supplyis established but not the information flow by way of the optical fibre.Accordingly, a plug 10 with optical fibre 30 and optocoupling 28 can beplaced in a normal standard socket 12 without optical fibre, where theoptocoupling 28 is recessed flush. Both cases are described as mixedsystems.

Evidently, the standard design depicted can easily be replaced by anystandard design which is conventional in other countries.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-section IV/IV through a flexible network cable 32according to FIG. 2. As well as the three electrical conductors 14, anoptical fibre 30 is integrated into the network cable 32 and allconductors are sheathed by a protective casing 34.

An outline indicated in FIG. 5 of a building floor 36 shown at leastpartly has several rooms which are equipped with an electrical powernetwork 38 and a data network 40.

The electrical power network 38, which is supplied by way of a powersupply line 39 through a building external wall 42, comprises normalelectrical conductors 14 of copper wires for a house installation, butcan however be formed as a local bus network in the usual manner. Theelectrical conductors 14 lead to combined sockets 12 according to FIG. 3which are mounted on external walls 42 and/or internal walls 58. Thebranches 44 of the electrical conductors 14 are formed in the usualmanner as terminal connections in an installation socket.

A local data network 40 with at least one fixed installed optical fibre30 is laid parallel to the electrical power network 38 and runs to thesockets 12. Branches in the data network are made by beam splitters 46.In a variant which is not shown, fixed installed sockets 12 can beguided individually by way of their own optical fibres 30 to a centralsystem, e.g. a distribution box, to minimise or prevent losses in beamsplitters 46. The information can be taken or supplied to all sockets 12together with the electrical current.

The fixed insulated part of the electrical power network 38 and datanetwork 40 shown in FIG. 5 is laid below the plaster surface, but inparticular for subsequent installations can be surface-mounted ininstallation tubes.

In addition to the fixed laid installation lines 38, 40 according toFIG. 5, FIG. 6 shows a variable installation 48 which is connected to asocket 12 by way of a plug 10 and a flexible network cable 32. The otherend of the network cable 32 is connected to a multiple plug 50 which canalso be formed as a connector strip. The branches 44 of the electricalconductors 14 and the beam splitters 46 of the optical fibre(s) 30 areformed according to FIG. 5 with fixed laid installation lines.

Connected to the three-way branched connector strip 50 in FIG. 6 is afurther plug 10 with a flexible network cable 32. This network cable 32leads to a peripheral or terminal 52 which comprises a power pack 54supplied by way of three electrical conductors 14 and an opticalinterface 56 supplied by way of the optical fibres 30 of the datanetwork. Optionally, terminals 52 without integrated optical fibres 30can be connected to the multiple plug 50.

The variable installation 48 can be connected to any arbitrary socket 12of an external wall 42 or internal wall 58 of a building (FIG. 5).

The building floor 36 according to FIG. 7 comprises, as in FIG. 5, fixedlaid installation lines 14, 30 for the electrical power network 38 witha power supply line 39 and for the data network 40 with an informationsupply line 41. The information supply line 41 is here a telephone andcable television line.

In room R1, a variable installation in the form of a transceiver 60 isconnected to a socket 12. The transceiver 60 corresponding to aperipheral or terminal 52 (FIG. 6) is connected to a socket 12 and byway of this socket 12 supplies a power pack 54 with electrical power andconnects the data supply line 41 by way of attached electronics and anoptical interface 56 with the local data network 40 of optical fibres30.

Correspondingly, in room R2 is arranged disconnectably a further localdata network 40 for rooms R3 and R4.

The local optical fibre data network 40 is thus a secure andencapsulated local network which can only be connected to the outsideworld by way of a controlled access, the transceiver 60, and which canbe separated from there at any time.

According to FIG. 8, all sockets 12 of the fixed laid installation 38are connected by way of their own optical line 30 to a central system62, e.g. an optical switch. To minimise losses in the fixed installedpassive optical data network 40, the sockets 12 are individually led tothe central system 62 each by way of an optical line 30. Thus, there isno need to use beam splitters 46.

1. A home and building information system comprising at least oneelectrical power network connected to an electrical power supply lineand at least one local optical data network for information exchange andthe supply, control and monitoring of peripherals and terminals, andfurther comprising electrical conductors of the at least one electricalpower network and at least one optical fiber of an optical passive datanetwork being arranged running parallel and integrated in all of aplurality of components, and said components comprising firstlyfixed-wired installation lines with sockets and secondly variableinstallations with flexible network cables and plugs, all sockets of thefixed-wired installation lines being connected by way of their ownoptical line to a central system which allows elimination or arestricted number of beam splitters in fixed laid installations and ofmultiple plugs in variable installations.
 2. Home and Buildinginformation system according to claim 1, wherein the at least oneoptical fiber of the optical data network is connected to at least onedata supply line by way of secured, disconnectable devices withelectrical power pack and optical interface.
 3. Home and buildinginformation system according to claim 1, wherein integrated in standardsockets, plugs, multiple plugs and connector strips, in addition to theLive, Neutral and Earth, is said at least one optical fiber withcorresponding optocouplings, and the at least one optical fiber has abeam splitter at each branch of the electrical conductors, in eachmultiple plug and in each connector strip.
 4. Home and buildinginformation system according to claim 1, wherein the optical datanetwork is connected to at least one external information supply line byway of an optical interface connected to a socket, and at least onetransceiver with power pack and optical interface or at least one modem.5. Home and building information system according to claim 1, wherein atransceiver connected to a socket supplies several local data networks.6. Home and building information system according to claim 1, furthercomprising at least one data supply line comprising at least one of atelephone, television and internet line.
 7. Home and buildinginformation system according to claim 1, wherein the at least oneoptical fiber is taken from a flexible network cable and connectedexternally to an optical interface of a peripheral or terminal notsupplied by the at least one electrical power network.
 8. Home andbuilding information system according to claim 1, wherein the at leastone optical fiber is taken from a flexible network cable and connectedexternally to an optical interface of a peripheral or terminal withoutcorresponding equipment.
 9. Process for use of an information systemaccording to claim 1, wherein it is used with different standardssimultaneously.
 10. Process according to claim 9, wherein the standardsand protocols of information transmission are determined by devicesconnected to the sockets.
 11. Process according to claim 9, whereincomputer networks, multimedia and communication devices with high speedtransmission up to around 10 Gbit/sec, domestic appliances, office andworkshop machines with lower transmission rates are operated withseparate wavelengths for transmission and reception.